The Role
The acquisition of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines is an historic and transformative endeavour for Australia. The whole-of-nation effort to safely and securely deliver the cutting edge nuclear-powered submarine program will transform Australia’s economic and national security landscape for decades to come.
The Nuclear Regulation Branch is responsible for managing the full domestic nuclear regulatory portfolio for the Nuclear-Powered Submarine (NPS) Enterprise. This includes:
- Developing regulatory guidance material;
- Implementing compliance programs against domestic nuclear regulations and;
- Undertaking quality assurance of regulatory applications and submissions;
As a member of the Nuclear Regulation Branch within the ASA, you will have the opportunity to work across a range of program and policy areas of the NPS enterprise, through preparation and submission of applications for Governments approvals with Australia’s nuclear regulators, contributing to strategic policy and legislative reviews, shaping and implementing regulatory compliance and assurance activities, and contributing to Branch administration and coordination.
About our Team
As part of the Australian Submarine Agency you will be working at the cutting edge of capability delivery, supported by professionalisation pathways so you can continue to develop, along with unique and varied career opportunities. Our people are capable, committed and diverse. We support an inclusive culture that emphasises respect and collaboration and prioritises safety and security. Our greatest asset is our people. We offer flexible working arrangements and a range of formal and informal professional development opportunities.
The Nuclear Regulation Branch has four directorates responsible for:
- Managing the Nuclear-Powered Submarine (NPS) Enterprise’s domestic nuclear regulatory approvals process under the four main regulatory regimes:
- Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Act 2024
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998
- Nuclear Non-proliferation (Safeguards) Act 1987
- Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
- Leading engagement on domestic nuclear regulatory matters with NPS project teams to understand scope of work to guide, obtain and maintain necessary approvals.
- Providing guidance to project teams on scoping, writing, technical review, regulatory-required public consultation, and submission of regulatory approvals
- Monitoring and assuring NPS Enterprise compliance with relevant domestic nuclear regulatory frameworks and associated approvals.
- Draft and Maintain the ASA Nuclear Regulatory Strategy and the ASA’s overarching Nuclear Regulatory Strategy documentation and associated frameworks, procedures and processes.
Our Ideal Candidate
The ASA is a dynamic organisation seeking employees who are agile, innovative and thrive in a high-paced and dynamic work environment. We are seeking highly motivated and collaboratively minded people who want to contribute to a once in a lifetime program. The Nuclear Regulation Branch has a number of roles across the policy, Government approvals compliance and governance areas that will be filled in this round. We are looking for people who have demonstrated skills, leadership and expertise that include:
- Lead and manage small teams
- Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication skills founded on analysis and close attention to detail
- Develop and maintain a deep understanding of the domestic nuclear regulatory environment; including understanding of processes, intersection of various approvals, and timelines for achieving regulatory approvals
- Strategic analysis and distillation of policy and program challenges
- Highly developed, nuanced understanding of the domestic nuclear regulatory environment (nuclear safety, safeguards and environmental)
- Ability to lead compliance and assurance activities including leading audit processes (both onsite and desktop)
- Commitment and demonstrated ability to communicate with confidence across various levels of seniority within the Agency, nuclear regulators, industry and trilateral partners.
- Demonstrated ability to break down policy or programmatic challenges and present solutions-focused inputs with limited supervision.
Application Closing Date: Sunday 22 March 2026
For further information please review the job information pack, reference ASA/09457/25 on https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=CD3C79B3-7D87-79D0-3315-ECAC277E2CD4